Mikael Backlund thinks the stakes are high for him going into the 2012-13 campaign. Backlund signed a signed one-year/$725,000 "show me" deal after his disappointing 2011-12 season. "If I don't have a good year this year, I might be back in Europe," Backlund said. "And I don't want to be there." Flames GM Jay Feaster sees Backlund as a guy that can compete for a spot on one of Calgary's top two lines. That would obviously help his fantasy value, but right now we can't recommend drafting him in standard leagues.

Mikael Backlund sees his newly signed one-year/$725k contract as a "show me" deal. He had just four goals and 11 points in 41 games. "It's good for both parties," Backlund said. "I had a tough year, so I understand they're not 100 per cent sure where I stand. And for me, if I have a good year, it's really good for me . . . and I can get a better contract. If it goes the other way, it wouldn't be too good, but I'm not planning to have a bad year again. I'll work hard to push myself to have a good year . . . and I hope to get a longer term after next season." Backlund might bounce back next season, but he still won't have any fantasy value in standard leagues.

Mikael Backlund has re-signed with the Calgary Flames. He received a one-year deal worth $725,000 after appearing in 41 games last season due to injuries. Backlund generated only four goals and seven assists over that span, but he will get an opportunity to land a role in the team's top-six group in 2011-12. He does possess talent but needs to be far more consistent.

Calgary issued Mikael Backlund a qualifying offer, but the club expects more from him this season. The center was a first-round pick in 2007, but he's sputtered since being given a shot in the NHL, tallying only four goals and 11 points in 41 games this past season. "I hope that he comes back with a real seriousness of purpose," general manager Jay Feaster said. "And Mikael knows this. We talked about it multiple times through the season, and we talked about it at his exit meeting Many times this season, he was whistling past the graveyard."

Mikael Backlund (arm) skated on Friday. Backlund suffered an arm injury on the second Saturday in February and never returned to the lineup. The Flames like his offensive potential but he managed only four goals and 11 points in 41 games this season. Keep him in mind in fantasy drafts next season if you need a late sleeper pick in deep drafts.

Mikael Backlund (arm) won't return by the end of the regular season. Backlund thinks he would have been able to participate in the playoffs, but Calgary isn't expected to secure one of the final spots in the Western Conference. "It would have given me another nine days, time to get in some practises with the team, take some contact . . . I was hoping to play," Backlund said. He had four goals and 11 points in 41 games this season.

Mikael Backlund is expected to miss the next four-to-six weeks because of a suspected arm injury. Officially, the Calgary Flames are referring to it as an upper body injury. He has four goals and 11 points in 41 games this season.

Mikael Backlund could be out for over a month with what is believed to be an arm injury. The Calgary Flames still haven't given their official update on Backlund's condition, but when TSN's Bob McKenzie hears something, it usually ends up being true. Backlund's was spotted using a sling after sustaining the injury on Saturday.

The Calgary Flames haven't specified the nature of Mikael Backlund's recent injury, other than to say that it's related to his upper body. Backlund was spotted using a sling, so it might be serious. The Flames are expected to offer an update on Monday. Backlund left Saturday's game after fighting Vancouver's Andrew Alberts.

Mikael Backlund left Saturday night's game with an apparent left arm injury. He injured himself in a tussle with the Canucks' Andrew Alberts while sticking up for teammate Blake Comeau. Consider Backlund day-to-day for the time being.